There was seven fatalities recorded in the agriculture sector in Northern Ireland for the year 2018/19, according to a report published by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland HSENI).

This figure makes up over half of all reported workplace fatalities in the last year, which stands at 12. The number of reported deaths in the agriculture sector remains unchanged from the previous year, as the number of reported fatalities was also at seven for the year 2017/18.

In the past five years, most workplace fatalities were as a result of a fall, this was followed by vehicle movement, struck by an object or an animal being the second most contributing factors to fatal accidents.

Farm safety

In the past six years, a number of 39 deaths have occurred as a result of farm accidents in Northern Ireland.

The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) said that farm safety remains a primary concern and it is encouraging farmers to make their own health and well-being a priority when working on-farm.

UFU deputy president Victor Chestnutt said: “[The UFU] cannot stress enough how important it is for farmers to stop and think about what they’re doing, because when working with slurry, unpredictable livestock and high-powered technology, it only takes a spilt second for a life changing-injury or fatality to happen.

“Any death is one too many and I strongly urge all farmers and farm workers to view their safety with the greatest importance and make it a priority every day,” said Mr Chestnutt.